George Washington’s estate was comprised of 8,000 acres and although much of the land is now occupied by residential developments, The Neighborhood Friends of Historic Mt. Vernon would like those residents to get involved in preserving our first president’s legacy.
There were five farms: the Mansion House Farm, Union Farm, Dogue Run Farm, Muddy Hole Farm and River Farm. These are now Virginia zip codes 22308, 22309 and 22121.
Andy and Ellie Turner are the co-chairs of the steering committee of the Neighborhood Friends. “We live on one of the original farms and wanted to find a way to make George Washington a real part of the history books that our children are studying,” Andy Turner said. “As a volunteer at Mt. Vernon, I see people from all over the country and from around the world. For those of us who live on the farms, Mt. Vernon is right in our back yards and there are many of us who aren’t involved.”
The group was formed in 1987. “Some of our neighbors saw a need to focus on the little projects that were not necessarily on the radar screen of the Ladies Association,” said Ellie Turner. “We undertake projects that are in the less than $150,000 range.”
The group has been instrumental in restoring the lane where much of the work on the Mansion Farm was conducted to its original state. “The well would never have been as close to the kitchen as it was,” Andy Turner said. “Also, there was the dung repository where compost was made. We worked with the archaeologists and uncovered the original stone floor and now it is functioning the way it used to in Washington’s time.”
This year, the group is assisting with the reforestation of the grounds. The deer population has grown so much that deer are feeding on seedlings. “We are ordering seedlings and placing them in fenced areas and caring for them until they can grow large enough that the deer cannot harm them,” Andy Turner explained. “Then they will be transplanted so that the forest can be as it was in Washington’s time.”
The group has also taken on the responsibility for sponsoring the Birth Night Ball that is held each year at the Mt. Vernon Inn. “We have a dinner that is typical of what might have been held for Washington’s actual birthday,” said Ellie Turner. “Each year the menu is slightly different but we typically serve venison and some kind of fish along with Sally Lund bread. We finish it with dancing and a toast to the general.”
The dancing always includes the minuet and the toast is always made with Madeira. “One of the things that I didn’t know about Washington is that he loved dancing the minuet and that he always toasted his birthday with Madeira,” Ellie Turner said. “Living so close to Mt. Vernon, I’m very glad that we’ve gotten involved and learned so many little things about the first president.”
Andy Turner agreed. “I didn’t know that Washington made most of his money from fishing,” he said. “He used to stand on his porch and watch the fish jump out of the river. He made larger and larger nets and caught and dried the fish to send to market. I always thought of Washington as a farmer.”
Andy Turner likes sharing his knowledge with the visitors he greets. “The interpreters work with us a lot and teach us about life in colonial times and the Washington family. Children actually have an opportunity to card wool and participate in other hands-on activities at the estate. It really is a wonderful resource.”
Right now, the group has about 1,100 members. The Turners would like to see this grow to 1,500 or more. “There are so many ways people who live here can get involved,” Andy Turner said. “And there are lots of benefits, too.”
There are special lectures, private tours of the mansion and a barbecue in the fall. “Mt. Vernon really is an important part of our past that is very much alive because of the 400 volunteers and those who make contributions,” Turner said. “We would just like to see more of our neighbors get involved and see what a wonderful experience this can be.”
<bci>—For more information on The Neighborhood Friends, go to the Mt. Vernon web site at www.mountvernon.org and click on supporting Mt. Vernon.